Dark Secrets Revealed in "The Drama"

Does one moment define your entire life? More importantly, does one bad thought define who you are as a person? The phrase “people are more than their worst moment” is something that is said a lot, yet many of us fail to live out that statement to its conclusion. “The Drama” is a movie that is being sold as a dark comedy. In many ways, it is dark, and in some ways it is a comedy. Particularly in the area where our (mostly) unlikable characters are quick to pass judgment on others for their mistakes while overlooking their own shortcomings. But it does go to uncomfortable places, and in a tribal world, this is a polarizing film in all the right ways.

It revolves around a couple (played by Robert Pattinson and Zendaya) who are in the final week of planning their wedding. They are the perfect couple, have the cutest story of how they met, and everything is running smoothly when it comes to the planning. However, one night, when the drinks are flowing and the peer pressure is mounting, everyone shares the worst thing they’ve ever done. Here’s a side note for my readers: NEVER do this! Especially when alcohol is involved. Since movies can teach us more about the world, take this as an opportunity to learn.

Anyway, when it’s Emma’s (Zendaya) turn to share her secret, it (understandably) shocks the group, and recontextualizes her entire relationship with Charlie (Pattinson). It’s one thing to share a dark thought: it’s another one entirely to take it so far that you get to the planning stages. The fact that circumstances prevent Emma from fully committing to her dark thoughts is of little comfort to her friends, and Charlie begins to wonder if he truly knows the woman he is about to marry. What follows is an imperfect but highly effective film in getting the audience to think hard about a situation that is more complicated than we want to admit. A24 (the company distributing the film) has gone out of their way to avoid spoiling the reveal in the trailers.

Activists have complained that by doing so, they are robbing people of the opportunity to have frank discussions of the themes being held on the talk shows and press junkets. From my perspective, I feel keeping the reveal a secret is for the best. Aside from the fact that I feel audiences deserve to be shocked by it, there is nothing that says people can’t have discussions of the subject after the fact. Yes, that means some people are likely to have an uncomfortable surprise sprung on them in a setting with a group of strangers. I acknowledge this. But if great art doesn’t challenge us, then what good is it?

There are a number of topics that potentially arise from the reveal. From how we see people, to how secrets boil up in unexpected ways, to racism, to how circumstances can step in and prevent people from being the worst part of themselves…heck, there’s going to be debate on who this movie is even about, Emma or Charlie (they don’t get equal screen time). From where I stand, “The Drama” is an imperfect but decidedly impactful film. I am still thinking about it hours after having viewed it, and I will likely go see it again to understand it better. I can’t say I was entertained, but I was emotionally moved, which is what great movies do. That being said, while I appreciate A24’s efforts to keep the reveal a secret, making it look like a dysfunctional comedy probably isn’t doing anyone any favors.